Swivel palm for web shifting



Sept. 12, 1939. w, NASH 2,172,543

SWIVEL PALM FOR WEB SHIFTING DEVICES Filed Jan. 25, 1937 f7? V& 7! for: ll/i Ilia: 6. M5]! Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWIVEL PALM FOR WEB SHIFTING DEVICES Application January 23, 1937, Serial No. 121,933

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in feeler palms for electrically operated web guiding or shifting devices, and refers specifically to a feeler palm which is characterized by its sensitivity and its resistance to wear.

In the guiding of continuously traveling webs, paper forming wires, belts and the like, electrically operated shifting means has heretofore been proposed such as that shown and described in my co-pending application for patent, Serial Number 19,157 filed May 1, 1935. The shifting means, of course, acts to laterally move a web, wire or belt to a desired line of travel. To actuate the shifting means a feeler palm is usually employed which is disposed adjacent the edge of the traveling web, wire or belt and is moved in response to lateral movement of the web, wire or belt when the same tends to depart from the desired line of travel.

The palm which contacts the edge of the traveling web, wire or belt, usually comprises a flat metal plate, and the face of the plate is adapted to make contact with the edge of the traveling web, wire or belt. In view of the fact that the palm is of considerable width, it is difiicult to so adjust the plane of the palm so that the edge of the web, wire or belt rides over the entire width of the palm. Heretofore, the edge of the web, wire or belt usually bore with unequal pressure upon the width of the plate and frequently only contacted a portion of the width of the plate adjacent one side or the other of the plate, due to the fact that the face of the plate and the line of the edge of the web, wire or belt were not in the same vertical plane.

At best only an approximate initial alignment has been heretofore possible and during the major portion of the time of operation the web tends to continually shift laterally. Obviously, during these periods of shifting the edge of the web is traveling along a line at an angle to the pre-set position of the palm face and, hence, the palm face is worn excessively adjacent the side and not uniformly worn at the center. It can be seen from this that the initial setting of the palm can be only an approximation and can under no circumstances be conducive to uniform wear of the palm.

Moreover, the non-alignment of the face of the palm with the edge of the web, wire or belt is not only detrimental to the life of the palm, but tends to cause damage to the edge of the web, or wears the edge of the wire or belt excessively. The wearing action of the palm upon the web, wire or belt is cumulative in that an improperly worn palm will unduly wear the moving member which it contacts.

One of the objects of my invention resides in the provision of a palm mounting which permits self adjustment of the palm face and, hence, permits uniform contact between the palm face and the edge of the web, wire or belt.

Another factor which is conducive to excessive wear to the palm face and injury to the edge of the web, wire and screen, is the resistance offered by the actuating portion of the palm mechanism to movement of the palm.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an electric switch and actuating mechanism which offers a minimum resistance to the movement of the palm.

Other objects and advantages of my invention Will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detailed description.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view partly in elevation of my improved palm and actuating mechanism.

Fig, 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l indicates a housing having a back 2 and removable front 3 and sides 4, 5, 6 and I. The housing I may be mounted adjacent and preferably above the path of travel of a continuously passing web, wire or belt 8, said latter member, being illustrated in Fig. 1, as moving at right angles to the face of the drawing.

An arm 9 is pivotally mounted within the housing I, the mounting means comprising a bolt it! having head II, the bolt being carried by the back 2. Ball bearing races [2 embrace the bolt 10 and are confined within the hub [3, comprising an integral portion of arm 9. The arm 9 extends downwardly from bolt l0 and projects through an opening l4 provided in wall 6 of the housing i.

The lower end of arm 9 terminates in a sleeve [4 which carries a bolt or pintle l5. A second sleeve 1 6 is also carried upon bolt l5 immediately beneath sleeve 14. Both sleeves l4 and It are provided with arcuate-shaped lugs I! at their adjacent ends, whereby a degree of relative rotation is permitted between the sleeves, the lugs serving as stops to limit such rotation.

Sleeve I6 is formed as an integral portion of yoke 18 which comprises a pair of spaced apertured arms IS. A bolt or pintle 20 extends through the apertures in arms l9 and also projects through apertures provided in spaced lugs 2| which, in turn, are formed integral with a plate 22. Plate 22 is rigidly secured to the rear face of palm 23 which is adapted to be maintained in contact with a lateral edge of the passing web, wire or belt 3. By the provision of the pintle connection between yoke l8 and lugs 2|, palm 23 has limited swingable movement with respect to yoke it. A coil spring 24 embraces an intermediate portion of pintle 2t! and is confined between lugs 2i, one end of said spring being anchored to yoke 58 whereas the opposite end thereof bears upon the rear face of palm 23. By the provision of spring 2 3, palm is urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 whereby palm 23 is urged toward the edge of web 8.

An arm 25 is also formed integral with hub l3 and extends upwardly therefrom, said arm terminating in yoke 26 comprising two juxtaposed slotted arms 21!. The back 2 is provided with an offset, inwardly projecting portion 28 which is grooved for the reception of a rack 29. Straps are fastened to the face of the portion 28 by means of screws 3i or the like, whereby rack 2b is immovable laterally from said groove. However, rack 29 is free to move a limited distance longitudinally. A pin 32 is carried at an intermediate portion of rack 29 and projects from opposite side surfaces thereof. The yoke 26 embraces the rack 29 and pin E52 is disposed in registration with the slots in the arms 2'! of said yoke. A bolt is positioned in wall and can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly by means of nut The inner end of bolt 33 is restricted in diameter, as shown at in Fig. 1 whereby a seat for coil spring provided. A restricted extension 37! is provided at the end of rack 29 whereby the opposite end of spring is provided with a seat. Of course, when arm 25 rocks about bolt id, rack 29 is moved longitudinally with or against the compression of spring 86.

A boss 38 extends from the outer face of the back 2 and is provided with a recess 39 which opens into housing l. Ball bearing races Ali and ii are positioned in the recess 39 and are separated from each other by collar 32. A shaft 43 is carried by the races Gil and ll and is rotatable therein, said shaft carrying a nut at its outer end which prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft. A collar is keyed to the opposite end of shaft 33 within housing 5, said collar comprising an inte ral portion of a half-clamp d6. lhe remaining half of the clamp comprises the member ll which is secured to the element 46 by means of screws or bolts 48.

'1 1e clamp comprising members 36 and 41 is adapted to securely carry a glass tube to in which a quantity of mercury 5b is contained. The tube is, of corrse, hollow and totally enclosed, the longitudinal axis of the tube being curved in arcuate fashion. Adjacent each end, and within the tube, a pair of electrodes (not shown) is carried, the electrodes being connectible with the c nductors and his and 52 and The tube is so carried by the clamp that its arcuate longitudinal axis is concave upwardly.

In use, the conductors 5i and lila, 52 and 52a, are connected to a web shifting mechanism (not shown), such as that described in my copending application hereinbefore referred to, or the same may be connected to any suitable electrically operated web shifting mechanism. When the tube is is tilted in one direction, the mercury 55 the electrodes at the low end of the tube and the web shifting mechanism is actuated to move the web 8 laterally in one direction. When the tube is tilted in the opposite direction, the

shifting mechanism acts to shift the web in the opposite direction.

A pinion 53 is keyed intermediate the clamp and the race 4| on shaft 43 and is adapted to mesh with teeth formed on rack 29. It will be manifest, therefore, that movement of the arm 25 will cause rotation of shaft "53 and hence tilting of tube 49.

In operation, as has been hereinbefore described, housing l is positioned adjacent and preferably above the path of travel of an edge of the web 8. Of course, the arm 9, if desired may extend from the top of the housing in which case the housing would be positioned beneath the web. However, the housing is so positioned that when tube 39 is in its neutral position, that is, when the mercury is positioned in the center of the tube and does not bridge either pair of electrodes, the palm 23 will bear against the edge of the web 8 with a desired degree of pressure, determined by the adjustment of spring 35. The edge of the web, during adjustment, of course, occupies the desired line of travel of the web and is in contact with the entire width of the palm while the lugs ii are at their maximum spacing from each other.

If, after the device is adjusted, the web moves laterally from the desired position, arm ii is rocked about the pin M. In addition, if the angular relationship of the edge of the web and the face of the palm changes the palm rocks about the pintle i5 to bring the width of the palm into coincidence with the edge of the web whereby a uniform maximum bearing surface is always presented to the web edge. When arm 9 rocks, of course, arm 25 rocks therewith and rack is moved longitudinally with or against spring 3 as the case may be. Movement of rack causes proportional movement of pinion and, hence, shaft and tube 39. The appropriate set of electrodes is thereby bridged and the shifting mechanism functions to restore web 3 to its normal path of travel.

It can readily be seen that since movement of the mechanism is initiated by movement of the web, the mechanism must be finely balanced and of light construction so as not to injure the edge of the web. Accordingly, the main journals are ball bearing which reduces friction to a minimum. In addition, by the use of the mercury switch 49 a light weight switching mechanism results which can be easily and smoothly operated. Further, by the provision of the pivoted palm the resistance encountered by the web in moving the mechanism is distributed over an appreciable length of the edge of the web rather than over a small length of the web edge, as would be the case were the palm immovable about the vertical axis. The latter feature is also conducive to longer life of the palm due to the more uniform wear that the palm receives.

I claim as my invention:

1. An actuating mechanism for an electrically operated web shifting device comprising, a support, a member pivotally mounted intermediate its length upon said support, said member being disposed substantially vertically, a palm carried by said member having a face of appreciable width, a swivel joining said member and said palm, said palm being swingable on said swivel about its longitudinal axis, adjustable resilient means for maintaining the face of said palm contact with the edge of a web adapted to continuously move across the width of the palm, said means acting upon the opposite end of said pivotally mounted member, and an electric switch carried by said support and operatively connected to said pivotally mounted member whereby movement of said member actuates said switch.

2. An actuating mechanism for an electrically operated web shifting device comprising, a support, a member pivotally mounted intermediate its length upon said support, said member being disposed substantially vertically, a single palm carried by said member having a face of appreciable width, a swivel joining said member and said palm, said palm being swingable on said swivel about its longitudinal axis, adjustable resilient means for maintaining the face of said palm in contact with the edge of a web adapted to continuously move across the width of the palm, said means acting upon the opposite end of said pivotally mounted member, and an electric switch carried by said support and operatively connected to said pivotally mounted member whereby movement of said member actuates said switch.

3. An actuating mechanism for an electrically operated web shifting device comprising, a support, a member pivotally mounted intermediate its length upon said support, said member being disposed substantially vertically, a palm carried by said member having a face of appreciable width, a swivel joining said member and said palm, said palm being swingable on said swivel about its longitudinal axis, adjustable resilient means for maintaining the face of said palm in contact with the edge of a web adapted to continuously move across the width of the palm, said means acting upon the opposite end of said pivotally mounted member, a shaft rotatably mounted upon said support, a mercury switch carried upon said shaft, and means connecting said shaft and said member whereby movement of said member rotates said switch to actuate the web shifting mechanism.

WILLIAM C. NASH. 

